24 Hours of Live Jazz in St. Louis

You know things are going right when you couldn't possibly make all of the events filling up your weekend's calendar, no matter how hard you try. For this past weekend in particular (February 3-5) St. Louis was just bumpin' and it's becoming apparent that, just like the fresh store fronts you see popping up in every corner of this city, jazz, the people's music, is again being appreciated, hired, and becoming a more visible piece of St. Louis' cultural backdrop. I am part of this movement in supporting our culture. That's why I'm sharing some of the footage I took this weekend. Check it out live next weekend.

4 February (Saturday)

1:00-3:00 When it comes to Mardi Gras, St. Louis is no New Orleans, but we still boast the second largest carnival celebration in the country, and even to people at the confluence, it is not merely one day, but a season, a build up to Fat Tuesday. On Saturday Blues City Deli held its annual King Cake Party, featuring none other than the Funky Butt Brass Band! I don't have a video from this year, but I did find one from last year:

Before the reception at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel with Sentimental Journey

7:45-10:00 A few of us lindy hoppers were asked to perform at a
Casablanca-themed fundraiser held by Doorways. The event took place in the historic art deco Chase Park Plaza Hotel's Khorossan Ballroom, a venue that has held big names in popular music from every era since its inception in 1922. The Sentimental Journey Big Band, one of the most authentic big bands in St. Louis region, played 30s and 40s dance and background music for the event.

8:00-10:30 From the Chase we dashed to the Kemp Auto Museum for the Chesterfield Arts' Art Feast, which brought together about 500 arts practitioners for silent and open auctions, performances, and to showcase the arts. Lindy Hop St. Louis brought a team of six dancers for the events finale performance, followed by Miss Jubilee's Swing Band. The lindy hoppers, and many others, stuck around for some dancing and drinks:

8:00-10:00 To my dissatisfaction, we missed Wack-A-Doo's show at the little dance hall they call the Focal Point in Maplewood. Here's the band at a past dance held at the Focal Point:





9:00-12:30 I can't think of a better way to finish a busy Saturday than with a night cap from Schlafly Beer . . . unless the drink can be drunk in front of live music. This past Saturday we finished our night guzzlin' foam and enjoying the virtuosity of gypsy jazz and western swing band Swing Deville. Here, featuring some of the hottest fiddles in the country, they are trading licks in a rendition of "Sweet Georgia Brown."





5 February (Sunday)
St. Louis is known for its crime, its blues music, its gooey butter cake, love-hate relationships with its pizza, and frozen custard. One thing I wonder is why we're not known more for our freakin' brunches. We might go to bed at 10 pm even on weekends, but that's just to prepare ourselves to wake up and eat beyond our physical capabilities. We are a Brunch city, with a capital B. And in a lot of cases your delicious early day meals come with a live jazz accompaniment.


10:30-1:30 Every band has an environment where they just seem to thrive . . . whether its the place or the people. In this instance, Miss Jubilee's swing band is in its element when acoustic, and in a small, intimate setting. You can catch them every Sunday at Rue Lafayette in Lafayette Square. It will probably sound and look something like this (tastes and smells not included):





11:00-2:00 Rue is a stone's throw from downtown, and a beer sounds pretty tasty after quiche, croissants, and about 4 cups of coffee. Tommy Halloran, rhythm master and infamous scatter, often plays brunch at Lola between Washington and St. Charles. Yesterday morning he had Chloe Feoranzo, virtuoso and sweetheart, playing some mean clarinet and saxophone (you are likely to have spotted her in one of the videos above). They finished with a swinging version of a tune you just might know the words to.




And this is just what I happened to know about, and be interested in. Kim Massie, St. Louis R&B great, played Friday night at Plush. I like to give my arms and legs up for dancing, not for concert tickets and costly cocktails, but for the modernist fusionites, Dr. Lonnie Johnson probably played some great stuff during his two-night engagement at Jazz at the Bistro in Grand Center. Maybe you brunched at Mokabe's on South Grand and sipped coffee while listening to the Brewbadours. Maybe you caught Miss Jubilee early in the weekend, either Thursday at the Bottleworks or Friday at Beale on Broadway, and then stayed in bed for the rest of the weekend to evade the foggy February drizzle. Either way, surely you enjoyed yourself, and are looking forward to doing it all over again in a few days.

Like what you see? Check out other videos having to do with St. Louis music and happenings here: http://www.youtube.com/gethotkeepmovin. And for lindy hop and live jazz specifically, be sure to subscribe to Lindy Hop St. Louis's youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/lindyhopstlouis